Drapery rod bracket

ABSTRACT

The bracket comprises a support arm that can be mounted to either a vertical surface such as a wall or a horizontal surface such as a ceiling. A rod supporting member such as a ring or hook is removably attached to the arm and is adapted to receive and support a drapery rod. The rod supporting member can be removed from the support arm and attached directly to a surface to provide an inside mount for the rod. A separate mounting clip may be used to mount the rod supporting member to the surface. the mounting clip may be provided with a rod engaging element for centering the rod and a surface engaging element for fixing the position of the rod supporting member on the surface.

The invention relates generally to window coverings such as draperiesand more particularly to an improved bracket for a drapery rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a typical drapery rod installation the drapery rod consists of anelongated substantially cylindrical pole that is supported at or nearits ends by brackets. Depending upon the type of drapery, the desiredaesthetic look, the structure to which the rod is to be mounted, andother factors, different types of brackets are used to mount the rod indifferent installations. For example, the brackets may be mounted to avertical surface such as a wall (wall mount), to a horizontal surfacesuch as a ceiling (ceiling mount) or to the inside of a surface such asa window casement (inside mount) where each mounting arrangementrequires a different type of bracket having a structure particularlysuited for the type of installation.

The necessity of providing different mounting brackets can make the saleand installation of drapery rods unduly complicated and expensive.Manufacturers and retailers are required to stock different types ofbrackets and customers are required to purchase the type of bracketparticularly suited for the type of installation. For do-it-yourselfinstallations, the customer often is uncertain of the type of bracketthat is required for the particular installation at the time of purchaseleading to frustration and wasted time and effort. Moreover, draperyrods and brackets may be sold as kits where the rod and brackets aresold together complicating both the purchase decision of the customerand inventory and supply issues for the manufacturer and retailer.

Thus an improved drapery rod bracket is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The bracket of the invention comprises an adjustable support arm thatcan be mounted to either a vertical surface such as a wall or ahorizontal surface such as a ceiling. A rod supporting member such as aring or hook is removably attached to the arm and is adapted to receiveand support the drapery rod. The rod supporting member can be removedfrom the support arm and attached directly to a surface to provide aninside mount for the rod. A separate mounting clip may be used to mountthe rod supporting member to the surface. The mounting clip may beprovided with a rod engaging element for centering the rod and a surfaceengaging element for fixing the position of the rod supporting member onthe surface. A rod may be supported by the bracket in the wall mount,ceiling mount and/or inside mount positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bracket of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket of the invention with thecomponents in a disassembled condition.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rod supporting member and separatemounting clip in a disassembled condition.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rod supporting member and separatemounting clip in an assembled condition.

FIG. 5 shows the bracket of the invention used as a wall mount.

FIG. 6 shows the bracket of the invention used as a ceiling mount.

FIG. 7 shows the bracket of the invention used as an inside mount.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the rod supporting member andmounting clip.

FIGS. 9 through 11 show alternate embodiments of the bracket of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The bracket of the invention is shown generally at 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2and comprises an adjustable support arm 2. Arm 2 has a first arm portion2 a and a second arm portion 2 b where arm portion 2 a can sliderelative to arm portion 2 b to adjust the length of the arm 2. Armportion 2 b is formed with a mounting flange 8 where flange 8 includesholes 12 for receiving screws or other fasteners 10. The fasteners 10are inserted through the holes 12 and are secured to a surface such as awall or ceiling to mount the arm to the surface. Mounting flange 8 maybe made integrally with arm portion 2 b or it may be a separatecomponent attached thereto.

Arm portions 2 a and 2 b are formed with mating tracks 5 that allow thearms to reciprocate relative to one another in a telescoping manner toadjust the length of arm 2. Arm portion 2 a is formed with a throughhole 7 for receiving a fastener 4 such as a threaded screw. Arm portion2 b is formed with a plurality threaded holes 6 that can be selectivelyengaged by fastener 4 such that arm portion 2 a can be fixed in positionrelative to arm portion 2 b. The use of discrete threaded holes 6 ratherthan continuously adjustable members enables the bracket 1 to be used asa ceiling mount bracket as shown in FIG. 6. When a bracket is mounted toa ceiling or other horizontal surface the weight of the rod 11 anddrapery 9 will tend to pull arm portion 2 a from arm portion 2 b. Ifcontinuously adjustable members are used to provide the adjustment wherefriction is relied on to fix the relative positions of the arm portions,the weight of the rod and drapery on the arm 2 may eventually cause thearm portions to slip relative one another and expand the bracket. Usingthe discrete adjustment where the fastener 4 mechanically engages one ofthe threaded holes 6, the position of the arm portions is fixed and theweight of the rod 11 and draperies 9 is supported.

A hole 14 is formed in face 16 arranged at the end of arm portion 2 a.In the illustrated embodiment surface 16 is bounded by a wall 18 tocreate a recessed area 20 that receives a mating protrusion 24 formed onrod supporting member 22. Rod supporting member 22 defines an interiorspace 23 in which the rod is located. In FIGS. 1 through 9 and 11 therod supporting member 22 is a ring that surrounds the rod and in FIG. 10the rod supporting member 58 is a hook that partially surrounds the rod.Other constructions of the rod supporting member are possible.Protrusion 24 has a threaded hole 25 (FIG. 3) that is arranged coaxiallywith hole 14. A threaded fastener 26 such as a screw is inserted throughhole 14 and into threaded hole 25 to releasably secure the rodsupporting member 22 to the arm 2. While a separate fastener is shown itis to be understood that either rod supporting member 22 or arm 2 may beprovided with an integral fastener.

To mount the bracket as either a ceiling mount (FIG. 6) or a wall mount(FIG. 7), the assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used. The arm 2 issecured to the surface using fasteners 10 in either a verticalorientation (ceiling mount) or a horizontal orientation (wall mount).Arm portion 2 a can be adjusted relative to arm portion 2 b to create anarm 2 of the desired length. The mechanical engagement of fastener 4with discrete mating receptacles 6 fixes the arm portions 2 a and 2 brelative to one another in both a wall mount installation and a ceilingmount installation.

To use the bracket of the invention as an inside mount, the rodsupporting member 22 is removed from arm 2 by unfastening fastener 26.Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 a mounting clip 30 is attached to rodsupporting member 22 using fastener 26. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the fastener 26 is used to secure rod supporting member22 to arm 2 and to secure mounting clip 30 to rod supporting member 22although separate fasteners may be used. Moreover mounting clip 30 orrod supporting member 22 may be provided with an integral fastener.Mounting clip 30 includes a first flange 30 a that extends substantiallyperpendicular to the surface to which it is mounted and has a firstthrough hole 32 formed therein. A second flange 30 b is arranged atapproximately a right angle to flange 30 a and includes a second throughhole 34. The second flange 30 b extends to the interior space 23 of therod supporting member 22. A rod centering member such as post 36 may beprovided on flange 30 b that extends into rod supporting member 22. Post36 extends into an aperture formed along the longitudinal axis of rod 11to center the rod on the rod supporting member 22. Fastener 26 isinserted through hole 32 of mounting clip 30 and is threadably connectedto threaded hole 25 on rod supporting member 22. Rod supporting member22 is provided with a notch 38 along the edge 39 thereof that faces thesurface to which member 22 is secured in the inside mount installation.Notch 38 is dimensioned to receive the mounting clip 30 such that theedge 39 of rod supporting member 22 is flush with the surface to whichthe member 22 is mounted. The notch 38 may be omitted if a flush mountof the rod supporting member 22 to the surface is not desired. Afastener 40 such as a threaded screw may be inserted through hole 34 toattach mounting clip 30 to a surface. As best shown in FIG. 8, aprojection 42 may be provided on the surface of the flange 30 b thatfaces the surface to which the rod supporting member 22 is mounted.Projection 42 may include a sharp point or edge that can be pressed intothe surface to prevent the rod supporting member from rotating aboutfastener 40 when member 22 is secured to the surface.

Referring to FIG. 7, to mount a rod 11 to a ring-shaped rod supportingmember 22 for an inside mount, the mounting clip 30 is secured to thesurface at the desired location. The rod 11 is inserted into ring 22.The ring 22 is then secured to the mounting clip 30 using fastener 26.The opposite end of the rod is mounted in the same manner. If the rodsupporting member comprises a hook such as shown in FIG. 10, mounting ofthe hook could be done as previously described. Alternatively, thehook-shaped rod supporting member 58 could be secured to the mountingclip first and both of these elements could than be mounted to thesurface. The rod 11 could then be inserted into the hook 58 after themounting clip 30 and hook 58 are mounted to the surface.

An alternate embodiment of the mounting clip 30 and rod supportingmember 22 is shown in FIG. 9 where the mounting clip 30 is secured suchthat flange 30 b is arranged extending outside of rod supporting member22 rather than into the interior space of rod supporting member 22. Rodcentering member 36 may be eliminated.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10 where the arm 50is comprised of discrete segments 50 a and 50 b that can be connected toone another and to wall mount flange 53 to vary the effective length ofthe arm. While the illustrated embodiment discloses two arm segments, agreater or fewer number of segments may be used. Each arm segment andthe wall mount flange include a threaded male member 52 that engages athreaded hole 54 of the adjacent segment. The final segment can bethreaded to rod supporting member 58. In such an arrangement, anadditional threaded member 56 is used to connect the mounting clip 57 tothreaded hole 59 of rod supporting member 58. Threaded member 56 may beintegral with the mounting clip 57 as shown or it may be a separatefastener as described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through4. In the illustrated embodiment the rod supporting member 58 is a hookthat extends for a portion of the periphery of rod 11 such that it cansupport the rod in both the ceiling mount and wall mount installations.Mounting clip 57 and mounting flange 53 are provided with through holes55 for receiving fasteners (not shown) for mounting the bracket to asurface.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 11 where arm 60includes a first segment 62 telescopically connected to a second segment64. Segment 62 is connected to wall mount flange 80 that is providedwith through holes 82 for receiving fasteners (not shown) for mountingthe bracket to a surface. Segment 62 telescopically slides within alongitudinal channel formed in segment 64 and is maintained in positionby a fastener 66 that is inserted through one of a plurality of alignedholes 68 and mechanically engages a threaded hole formed on member 62.The rod supporting member 70 is connected to arm 60 by a fastener 72that is inserted through hole 74 formed on the arm 60 and mechanicallyengages threaded hole 76 formed on a flange 78 extending from the rodsupport element 70. For an inside mount, the rod supporting member 70can be attached to the surface by a fastener engaging hole 76 such thata separate mounting clip need not be used.

While embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, various changesand modifications can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the invention has other applications in other environments. Manyembodiments are possible. The following claims are in no way intended tolimit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments describedabove.

1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled) 6.The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member is a ring.7. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member is ahook.
 8. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting memberincludes a notch at the periphery thereof for receiving said clip suchthat said rod supporting member is flush with said second surface. 9.(canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. Theapparatus of claim 22 wherein said clip includes a protrusion forengaging said second surface.
 14. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein saidarm is telescoping.
 15. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said firstportion and said second portion occupy one of a plurality of discretepositions relative to one another.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15 whereinsaid first portion is fixed in one of said discrete positions relativeto said second portion.
 17. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rodsupporting member has an interior portion said clip extending into saidinterior portion.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said clipincludes a post in said interior portion.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18wherein said post engages the drapery rod.
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)22. An apparatus for mounting drapery comprising: a drapery rod; a rodsupporting member for supporting the drapery rod in a substantiallyhorizontal orientation; an arm for mounting said drapery rod supportingmember to a first surface having a first orientation relative to saidrod, said arm including first means for releasably connecting said armto said rod supporting member and a first flange for abutting the firstsurface, said arm including a first portion and a second portionadjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that when saidfirst portion is fixed in a first position relative to said secondportion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixedin a second position relative to said second portion said arm has asecond length different than said first length; and a clip for mountingsaid drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a secondorientation relative to said rod, said clip including second means forreleasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member and asecond flange for abutting the second surface; whereby either said armor said clip is connected to said drapery rod supporting member formounting the drapery rod to the first surface or the second surface. 23.The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first flange includes aperturesfor receiving a fastener.
 24. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein saidprotrusion includes a sharp edge.
 25. The apparatus of claim 22 whereinsaid first means for releasably connecting includes a fastener.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 22 wherein said second means for releasablyconnecting includes a fastener.
 27. The apparatus of claim 22 whereinsaid rod supporting member is in a first orientation relative to saiddrapery rod when said rod supporting member is connected to said arm andsaid rod supporting member is in a second orientation relative to saiddrapery rod when said rod supporting member is connected to said clip.28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first portion is threadablyconnected to said second portion.
 29. The apparatus of claim 22 whereinsaid first surface is at substantially a right angle relative to saidsecond surface.
 30. An method for mounting a drapery rod comprising:providing a drapery rod; providing a rod supporting member forsupporting the drapery rod in a substantially horizontal orientation;providing an arm for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to afirst surface having a first orientation relative to said rod,releasably connecting said arm to said rod, said arm including a firstportion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to said firstportion such that when said first portion is fixed in a first positionrelative to said second portion said arm has a first length and whensaid first portion is fixed in a second position relative to said secondportion said arm has a second length different than said first length;providing a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to asecond surface having a second orientation relative to said rod,releasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member; selectingeither said arm or said clip for mounting the drapery rod to the firstsurface or the second surface; connecting the selected arm or clip tothe rod supporting member; attaching the selected arm or clip to thefirst or second surface; and supporting said drapery rod on said rodsupporting member.
 31. An apparatus for mounting drapery comprising: adrapery rod; a rod supporting member for supporting the drapery rod in asubstantially horizontal orientation; an arm for mounting said draperyrod supporting member to a first surface having a first orientationrelative to said rod, said arm including first connector for releasablyconnecting said arm to said rod supporting member, said arm including afirst portion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to saidfirst portion such that when said first portion is fixed in a firstposition relative to said second portion said arm has a first length andwhen said first portion is fixed in a second position relative to saidsecond portion said arm has a second length different than said firstlength; and a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to asecond surface having a second orientation relative to said rod, saidclip including second connector for releasably connecting said clip tosaid rod supporting member; whereby either said arm or said clip isconnected to said drapery rod supporting member for mounting the draperyrod to the first or second surface.
 32. An apparatus for mounting adrapery rod to a first surface or a second surface comprising: a rodsupporting member adapted to support a drapery rod in a substantiallyhorizontal orientation; an arm for mounting said drapery rod supportingmember to a first surface having a first orientation, said arm includingfirst connector for releasably connecting said arm to said rodsupporting member, said arm including a first portion and a secondportion adjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that whensaid first portion is fixed in a first position relative to said secondportion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixedin a second position relative to said second portion said arm has asecond length different than said first length; and a clip for mountingsaid drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a secondorientation, said clip including second connector for releasablyconnecting said clip to said rod supporting member and a flange forabutting the second surface; whereby either said arm or said clip isconnected to said drapery rod supporting member for mounting to thefirst surface or second surface.